Gender Diversity in Real Estate Education: Evidence from an African Higher Education Institution

Workspace inclusivity remain critical in promoting diversity and dynamism across all sectors of the economy. Despite recent progress, gender disparities persist in the real estate sector, including education and training programmes. This study employs a quantitative research design to investigate gender diversity in real estate education at Federal Polytechnic Ede, Nigeria. The study focuses on female students' enrolment in real estate programmes from 2009 to 2022, their experiences, perceptions and career prospects. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 138 out of all the 150 female students currently enrolled in the programmes. The findings indicate that the gender structure of real estate student enrolments is inclusive. Female enrolments have steadily increased and are stable below 50 per cent over the last thirteen years. However, female students face a lack of mentorship opportunities and perceive gender discrimination and bias in the real estate industry. These factors influence female students' self-esteem, motivation, and career opportunities in the real estate industry. This paper contends that the real estate sector must become more diverse. A proactive dedication to inclusivity, mentorship and the willingness to challenge existing norms and biases in the industry is needed to enable women to pursue real estate career.